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'NOQ 749,062. PATBNTED JAN. 5, 1904. H. A. HOUSBMAN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED we. 2-1, 1903. no MODEL. v 4 sums-sum: 1.

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PATEN TED JAN. 5,' l 904.

H. A. HOUSBMAN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

LPPLIOATION FILED AUG. 27, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

K0 KODEL.

J IIIYENTOR.

BY M 7 OHIIEY;

PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904. H. -A. HOUSEMAN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1903.

4 SHEETS-HEET 3.

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PA'TENTED JA N. 5,i 1 904.

' H-. A. HOUSEMAN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IIL BD AUG. 2'7, 1903. v v

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III VEIH 'OR I f 4 "raj/3% No.f749,'062.

UNITED STATES Patented January5, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

HARRY A. HOUSEMAN, OF PHILAD EL STANDARD MACHINE, COMPANY,

PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A OORPORATION OF PENNSYLV NIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING NIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 749,062, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed August 27, 1903.

To atZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HARRY A. HOUSEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw'ings, which form a Io part of this specification.

My invention has for its object certain improvements in circular-knitting machines provided with needles for the purpose of automatically preparing the machine for transferring. By preparing the machine for transferring I mean when the machine is onrotating work throwing the thread-carrier out of action, so that if there is any work on the machine at that time the loops will be removed from the needles, or if no work is on the needles the thread-carrier will be moved out of the line of the needles and out of interference with the transferring, bringing the needles to a common'level for the reception of the new work and stopping .the machine.

Previous to my invention machines have been prepared for transferring by hand. This takes considerable time and also involves the use to a certain extent of skilled labor.

With my improvements, which will hereinafter be fully described, I am enabled automatically and through the action of the machine alone, without the action of the operator, at the proper time, when it is desired, to prepare the machine for transferring.

In general my machine is shown in Letters Patent No. 538,518, dated April 30, 1895, and Patent No. 484,737, dated October 18, 1892, both granted to me.

I will now describe the specific embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then particularly point out the invention in the claims.

In the drawings, Figurel is a front elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan of same. Fig. 3 is a detail of cam and levers used in connection with the needle-leveling mechanism. Fig. 4. is a detail of the mechanism for stopping the machine. Fig. 5 is a side detail of the main Serial No. 170,894. (No model.)

operating ratchet and pawl. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lifting rod and cam for throwing the thread-carrier in and out of action.

,Fig. 7 is a side elevation of thread-carrierand ing-2'. e., narrowing or widening .the fabric to form the heel or toe of a stockingwhile the other half of the needles are thrown out ,of action during this period.

As in my Patent No. 484,737, hereinbefore spoken of, those of the needles I) which are thrown out ofaction during the formation of the heel and too are held in levers having tailpieces which rest in a groove in a plate. By operating this plate these needles, as describedlin that patent, are radially moved out of the line of the knitting-cams while they rest out of contact with the knitting-cams and level. This plate has pins 0 0, connected together by a cross-bar c Projecting from the cross-bar c is the rod 0 In line with the lower end of said rod 0 is the arm (I of a rocking frame D, sleeved on the shaft E. Projecting from the other end of the rocking frame D is the arm (1'. Pivotally mounted upon the arm (1 is the lever d Pivotally mounted upon the lever d is the leverel having the slot d atone end thereof. Through this slot passes a pin d connected to the lever 61 A spring (1 connects this pin to a fixed stud d Connected to the tailpiece d of lever d is a spring d connected to a projection (1 from the lever d The lever d has'at one end the handle d, and'the lever d has at'its free end the cam 01 Upon the main drivingshaft F of the machine is the roller Gr, having the cut-away portion g, provided with inclined walls. This cut-away portion 9 is so arranged that in the revolution of the roller Git comes opposite the line of movement of cam 11 when lever d is swung upon its pivot when the cam-cylinder is operating upon the needles which are uninfiuenced by. the plate before spoken of, and the spring d which has been put into tension by the movement of the lever d causes the cam to enter the cut-away portion g,and the movement of too the cam g rocks the frame, lifting the rod, elevating the plate, and throwing the needles influenced by the plate out of action of the knitting-cam. In my machine I operate this mechanism automatically in the following manner: The lever 61 has a lug e projecting therefrom. Upon the shaft E is a collar H, having a cam projection h in line with the lug 6, so that when the cam It strikes said lug the lever d is moved,as before described. Upon the shaft E is the ratchet I, having teeth 6 of length suificient to allow the pawl I to act, but having one tooth t the crown of which is longer than the throw of the pawl. The ratchet-wheel or ratchet I is also provided with a retaining-pawl I The pawl I is reciprocated by the following mechanism. On the main shaft F is a gearf, which meshes with a gear f, having a crank f connected to pawl I by connecting-rod The pawl I and connecting-rod f are supported by being pivotally connected to a frame or arm f swiveled on shaft E. The pawl I normally works on the crown of the long tooth; but when the ratchet I is turned, as will hereinafter be described, so as to bring the short teeth under the action of the pawl the ratchet will be turned, moving the collar H, so that the cam it strikes the lug e, producing the result before described.

J is the thread-carrier, which is pivoted to the thread-carrier frame J, so as to swing, a spring acting upon the thread-carrier in either position. The thread-carrier is provided with a gear 9' meshing with a segmental gearj pivoted to the thread-carrier and having a tailpiece j. K is a cam-plate having the upper cam is and the lower cam said cams being oppositely inclined. These cams, or rather the space between them, are in line of movement of the tailpiece j. The cam-plate K is supported upon the rod L, which is supported so as to be vertically movable. When the rod Lis lifted so as to bring the cam is in line with the tailpiece j, the tailpiece is moved, so that through its connection with the thread-carrier the threadcarrier is moved on its pivot out of operative position into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. When the rod is lowered, the cam K is in line of movement of the tail-piece j and the thread-carrier moves on its pivot into operative position, as shown in full lines, Fig. 7. A spring 1 acts against the upward movement of the rod L and tends to return it to its lower position. The lower end of the rod L is in line with a lever l pivoted to the frame of the machine. From this lever l is a projecting pin Z which rests upon the cam-roller M upon the shaft E. This cam roller M has high and low points, and when, in the rotation of the roller M, the lever Z is acted upon bythe high point the rod L is elevated, producing the eifect described, and when the lever Z is acted upon bv the low portion of the roller the rod is allowed to fall under the action of gravity and the spring Z. As the roller L is upon the shaft E, it is clear that when the ratchet I is operated by the pawl I the roller M will be turned, and when the high point is reached the rod L will be elevated, throwing the thread-carrier out of action.

Upon the shaft F is the fixed pulleyN and the idle pulley N, and N is the driving-belt.

O is the belt-shifting fork, between which is the belt N This shifting-fork O is connected to the rod 0', mounted in bearings so as to slide laterally. By sliding this rod 0 the belt may be shifted from the idle pulley to the active pulley, and vice versa. Fixed upon this rod 0' is the flange 0, having at one side the projecting portion 0 and at the other 0 To this flange is also connected one end of the spring 0 the other end being connected to a fixed point, said spring tending to hold the fork in such position as will hold the belt upon the loose pulley. The projection 0 is in line of movement of a lever P, pivoted at p.

Q is a plate pivoted at q and acted upon by the spring Q. This plate Q has the arms q and q, the arm (1 having the outward portion q -and the inward portion 41 connected by the incline q. The action of the spring Q tends to hold the arm (1 against the lever P. The arm g has a notched portion g When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, with the belt upon the loose pulley and the lever P moved, it will, through the flange 0, move the rod 0. When the lever has passed beyond the portion q", the projecting portion 0 has passed beyond the notched por-- tion (1 and the spring Q moves the plate Q so that the notched portion will move be-- hind the projecting portion 0, holding the rod 0' from movement.

R is an arm pivoted to the frame at 1". This arm has two portions 1" and T The portion 0" rests against a cam S, connected to the ratchet-wheel I. The cam S has the active portion .9, which when it strikes the lever or the portion 0" thereof moves upon its pivot, causing the other end 7* to strike the arm 1", attached to the shaft r, turning the arm 1' and, through the pin 8, attached to the arm q, allowing the belt-shifter to operate as described. As may be seen, by this arrangement when the ratchet I is operated the belt is automatically shifted from the active to the idle pulley.

From the description up to this point it is clear that with my machine the operation or movement of the ratchet-wheel I will cause, automatically, the following operations to be performed: the thread-carrier to be thrown out of action, certain of the needles moved out of the line of the knitting-cams while they rest out of contact with the knittingcams and level, and the machine stopped when the cams are in the space formerly occupied by these needles, and thus automatically prepare the machine for transferring.

In practice I so adjust the parts that when the ratchet I goes into operation'the threadcarrier will first be thrown out of action and then after the cam-cylinder has made several revolutions the needles will be leveled and themachine stopped at a point wherein the knitting-cams are in thespace previously occupied by the needles influenced by the plate. I do not intend to limit myself to any specific dwells between these movements, and, indeed, I have found in practice that I may in some cases simultaneously level the needles and stop the machine,-as there will be only sufficient momentum in the cam-cylinder to stop it at the proper point. The ratchet I is made of sufficient diameter and number of teeth to produce this cycle of operations and to return to the point where the pawl plays upon the long tooth in one revolution of the ratchet-wheel. I have provided,

mechanism whereby the ratchet is moved into operative position automatically at the desired time in the knitting. As before described, normally the pawl plays-upon the long tooth. The ratchet is secured'to the shaft E. On the shaft E and loose thereon is the spring-acted rocking arm T, having Fixed upon.

projecting therefrom a pawl 75. the shaft E is a one-toothed ratchet-wheel W,

, which normally isin engagement with the pawl.

..X is a pattern-chain having a lug a; thereon'at the point: desired for the pressing off and adjustment of the machine at the time, as described. The arm 'I is in line of movement of said lug, and when struck by said lug through the action of the pawl 25 the ratchet W is turned, turning the shaft E, and through it the ratchet I, so that the pawl I operates upon the short teeth. When the lug achas passed beyond the arm T, the spring retracts the arm to its original position, and when ratchet I hasmade one revolution the pawl t is again in engagement with the tooth of said ratchet.

From the above description it may be seen that with my improved machine if the lug so be put at the desired position upon the pattern-chain X the machine will automatically at the desired point press off the work and bring the needles to the proper position for the reception of new work.

Not only is the specific mechanism for accomplishing the result desired novel with me, but I believe myself to be the first to have produced any mechanism whereby this resultof preparing the machine for transferring may be accomplished independent of the operation and skill of the operator.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is V 1. In a circular-knitting machine,,for the purpose of preparing'the machine for transferring, in combination, means adapted to level all the needles, mechanism for controlling said means, normally out of action, and means for automatically throwing said mechanism into action during the rotation of the cam-cylinder. p

2. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, means adapted to level all the needles, mechanism normally out of action for controlling the operation ,ofsaid means, a pattern mechanism, and connection between said pattern mechanism and said needle-leveling-controlling mechanism for throwing the same into action at the desired point,during the rotation of the cam-cylinder.

3. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, mechanism adapted.

.into action.

5, In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for-transferring, the combination of mechanismifor leveling all the. needles, mechanism to throw the thread-carrier out of action, and means to automatically control the operation of said mechanisms during the rotation of the camcylinder. '1

6. ha circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, the combination with mechanismtov throw the thread-carrier out ofoperative position, and mechanism to level all the needles, of pattern mechanism, and-connections be tween said pattern mechanism andsaid thread-carrier and needle-leveling mechan-, isms, for controlling the operation of said needle-leveling mechanism and thread-carrier mechanism during rotation of the camcylinder.

7. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for trans ferring, the combination, with mechanism to throw the thread-carrier out ofaction and, mechanism to level all the needles, of meansv controlled by the machine for controlling the,

operation of said mechanisms, and causing them to operate in a predetermined manner.;

8. In a circular-knitting machine,wfor the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, the combination with mechanism to throw the thread-carrier out of action,,mech-,

anism to level all the needles and mechanism to stop the machine, of means'to automatic-- allycontrol the operation of said mechanisms;

9. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for trans ferring, the combination with mechanism to IIO throw the thread-carrier out of operative position, mechanism to level all the needles and mechanism to stop the machine, of pattern mechanism and connections between said pattern mechanism and said thread-carrier, needle-leveling, and stop mechanisms, for controlling the operation of said mechanisms.

10. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, driving means for the same, mechanism for leveling all the needles and connection between said driving means and said needle-leveling mechanism for automatically operating and controlling the operation of the same during the rotation of the cam-cylinder.

11-. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, mechanism for levelingall the needles, mechanism to stop the machine, and means controlled by the machine for controlling the operation of said mechanisms in a predetermined manner.

12. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, mechanism for leveling all the needles, mechanism for stopping the machine and interconnected devices for operating said mechanisms, said devices operating in a predetermined order with reference to each other.

13. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with the camcylinder, needle-cylinder and needles therein, of mechanism for throwing a portion of the needles radially out of operative position, mechanism to stop the machine, and a device for controlling the operation of said mechanisms adapted to first operate the needle mechanism and then the stop mechanism so that the last-mentioned mechanism goes into action when the camcylinder cams are in line with the needles thrown out of operative position.

14. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination with the cam-cylinder, needle-cylinder and needles therein, of mechanism for throwing a portion of the needles radially out of operative position, mechanism to stop the machine, a device for controlling the operation of said mechanisms adapted in the movement of the machine to first operate the needle mechanism and then the stop mechanism so that the last-mentioned mechanism goes into action when the cam-cylinder cams are in line with the needles thrown out of operative position.

15. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, mechanism for leveling all the needles, mechanism for stopping the machine, pattern mechanism, and connections between the pattern mechanism and the leveling and stopping mechanisms whereby the latter are'thrown into operation.

16. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination with the cam-cylinder, needle-cylinder and needles therein, of mechanism for throwing a portion of the needles radially out of operative position, mechanism to stop the machine, a device for controlling the operation of said mechanisms adapted to first operate the needle mechanism and then the stop mechanism, so that the last-mentioned mechanism goes into action when the cam-cylinder cams are in line with the needles thrown out of operative position, pattern mechanism, and means controlled by the pattern mechanism to control the operation of said device.

17. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, mechanism to throw the thread-carrier out of action, mechanism to level all the needles, mechanism to stop the mechanism to stop the machine, a ratchet and pawl,and connectionsbetween the ratchet and said mechanisms.

18. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, in combination, mechanism to throw the thread-carrier out of action, mechanism to level all the needles, mechanism to stop the machine, a ratchet and pawl, connections between the ratchet and said mechanisms adapted to operate said mechanisms in a predetermined manner, pattern mechanism, and means actuated by the pattern mechanism to throw said ratchet and pawl into operative relation.

19. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination, mechanism to throw the thread-carrier out of operation, mechanism to level all the needles, mechanism to stop the machine, a pawl and ratchet, a shaft upon which said ratchet is secured, cams upon said shaft, and operative connections between said cams and said mechanisms.

20. In acircular-knitting machine, in combination, mechanism to throw the thread-carrier out of operation, mechanism to level all the needles, mechanism to stop the machine, a pawl and ratchet, a shaft upon which said ratchet is secured, cams upon said shaft, operative connections between said cams and said mechanisms, the cams being so arranged that the mechanisms are operated in a predetermined manner, pattern mechanism, and means actuated by the pattern mechanism to throw said ratchet and pawl into operative relation.

21. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination, mechanism to throw the threadcarrier out of operation, and mechanism to level all the needles, mechanism to stop the machine, a shaft, cams upon said shaft, operative connections between said cams and said mechanisms, and means to rotate said shaft.

22. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a thread-carrier, a thread- ICC carrier support, said thread-carrier being hinged to said support, a gear on said carrier, a gear pivotally connected to'said support, said pivoted gear having an extension, a cam-plate, said plate being vertically. movably supported, cams secured to said plate, one cam being in one position of the plate in line with said gear extension, and the other cam in the other position of the plate, said cams being oppositely inclined, and means automatically to move said plate vertically.

23. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a thread-carrier, a threadcarrier support, said thread-carrier being hinged to said support, a gear-on said carrier, a gear pivotally connected to said support, said pivoted gear having an extension, a cam-plate, cams secured to said plate, one cam being in one position of the plate in line with said gear extension, and the other cam in the other position of the plate, said cams being oppositely inclined, a vertically-movable rod supporting said plate, a shaft, a cam upon said shaft having a high point, connection between said cam and rod, and automatic means to rotate said shaft.

24. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of preparing the machine for transferring, the combination of'mechanism for leveling all-the needles, mechanism to stop the machine, and means to automatically control the operation of said mechanisms.

25. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of leveling all the needles, in combination with the cam-cylinder, needle-cylinder, and needles therein, of means to throw a portion of the needles out of operative 'position, mechanism normally out of action adapted to throw'said means into action, and means acting automatically, during the rotation of the cam-cylinder, to throw said mechanism into action.

26. In a circular-knitting machine, for the purpose of leveling all the needles, in combination with the cam-cylinder, needle-cylinder and needles therein, of means to throw a portion of the needles out of operative position, mechanism normally out of action adapted to throw said means into action, and pattern mechanism adapted, during the rotation of the cam-cylinder, to throw said mechanism into action.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on

this 22d day of August, 1903. HARRY A. HOUSEMAN.

Witnesses:

M. F. ELLIS, M. M. HAMILTON. 

